Educational device



1968 J- F. KOPCZYNSKI 3,368,291

EDUCATIONAL DEVICE Filed Jan. 29, 1965 2 Sheets-Sheet l 2'9 ATTORNEY.

Fe .13,196s 'J. F.KOPCZYNSKI 3,368,291

EDUCATIONAL DEVICE Filed Jan. 29, 1965 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 I N VENTOR.

772a? D. farmer ATTORNEY? United ttes atent 3,368,291 EDUCATIQNAL DEVICE John F. Kopczynski, 1671 Sweeney St, North Tonawanda, N.Y. 14150 Filed Jan. 29, 1965, Ser. No. 429,089 4 Claims. (Cl. 35-43) This invention relates to educational devices useful for illustrating a postulated theory of what makes the galaxies of stars and planets perform the way they do in relationship to each other. The scientific world knows that all celestial bodies are aifected by a gravitational pull between them and also by a pushing force between them. The combination of these pulling and pushing forces are believed to be generated by gravity, centrifugal force, and angular momentum or velocity, and create and perpetuate an orbital path. Our galaxy is known by astronomers to be only one of many similar galaxies extending far out into space. Just as the earth and other planets in our solar system travel around the sun, our sun also travels around our galaxy, and the forces acting between the related celestial bodies, 'which are postulated to resemble a pulse wave action, are difficult for the average person to comprehend.

An object of this invention is to provide a simple and relatively inexpensive device by the use of which a postulated theory of the action of these pulse wave forces on celestial bodies may be demonstrated, and which may be used in studying the possible effects of compound forces such as gravitation, centrifugal and angular momentum or velocity on the orbital paths of celestial bodies relatively to one another.

Other objects and advantages will be apparent from the following description of some examples of the invention, and the novel features will be particularly pointed out in connection with the appended claims.

In the accompanying drawing:

FIG. 1 is a plan of a device constructed in accordance with the invention and illustrating one example of it;

FIG. 2 is an elevation of the same;

FIG. 3 is a sectional elevation, on a larger scale, of a part of this device, the section being taken approximately along the line 3--3 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a plan of another device also constructed in accordance with the invention, but illustrating another example thereof;

FIG. 5 is an elevation of the same;

FIG. 6 is a plan of simple device which also illustrates some of the principles of the invention, and represents a simple modification thereof; and

FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating how the interaction of forces shown in FIG. 6 apply to our sun, earth and moon.

In the simple example of the principle of the invention shown in FIG. 6, a member 10 is mounted for rotation about the axis of a supporting shaft 11, on the end of which the member is fixed, where such axis is central of and normal to the upper face 12 of member 10. Mounted on the face 12, eccentrically of shaft 11, is an element 13 having an upstanding cylindrical wall 14 forming a cup open at its upper end. A small spherical ball 15 is disposed in the chamber formed by the wall 14 and is free to roll around the inner face of this wall 14 and across the cup. The wall 14 is disposed at a substantial distance away from the axis of rotation of member 10, the greater the distance the greater being the forces acting upon the ball 15 and tending to cause it to roll around the interior of the cup formed by wall 14, as will appear more clearly later herein.

Assuming that the member 10 is rotated through its shaft 11 at a high speed in the direction of arrow A, the cup formed by the wall 14 will move bodily about the axis of the shaft, and the ball 15 will by this motion be caused to roll around the peripheral wall 14 of the cup in the direction of arrow B while it also rotates bodily about the axis of rotation of the member 10. The ball 15 is manually started rolling around the periphery of the cup in the direction of arrow B, while the rotation of member begins. The axis of rotation of member 10 symbolizes the location of the center of our galaxy, and the center of the cup formed by wall 14 symbolizes the sun which is continuously rotating about the center of our galaxy. The ball 15 symbolizes the earth which is rotating about the sun while moving with the sun about the center of our galaxy. The upper face 12 of member 10 symbolizes the gravitational force between the center of our galaxy and the sun, while the inner periphery of wall 14 symbolizes the gravitational force between the sun and the earth. The continued rolling of ball 15 in the cup while it and the cup are rotating with member 10 is seemingly in violation of the law of centrifugal force, since the ball would be expected to seek and remain at the greatest distance from the axis of rotation of member 10. However, actual operation of such a device definitely establishes that the ball does continue to roll around the cup in the direction of arrow B while it moves bodily with member 10 in a rotary path. It is postulated that the pulse wave action created by the combination of forces, gravitational, centrifugal and angular momentum or velocity is the reason that the ball 15 keeps rolling in the cup formed by wall 14 while it moves with the cup about the axis of rotation of member 10. To relate this to the universe, it is postulated that the center of our galaxy, which is a cluster of stars, transmits a pulse wave to our sun, which in turn transmits a similar pulse wave to our planets, also that the planet earth likewise transmits a pulse wave to our moon. It is further postulated that the center of our galaxy also receives a similar pulse wave from the center of its orbital path as it travels around another cluster of stars, and that in this way the pulse wave action is carried out throughout the universe and keeps it synchronized.

In FIG. 7 the diagram illustrates how the principles and forces explained in connection with FIG. 6 apply to our sun, earth and moon. The sun 16 is moving in a path about its galaxy and the earth 17 is being pulled along with the sun While also rotating on its own axis, in the same manner that the ball 15 rolled around the cup formed by wall 14. Similarly the moon 13 is pulled along by the earth in its path and in addition it rotates on its own axis while moving with the earth about the sun.

In the embodiment of the invention illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2, a member 20, similar to member 10 of FIG. 6, is carried centrally on the upper end of a shaft 21 that is rotatably mounted in a bearing 22 of a support 23. The member 20 carries on its upper face 24, eccentrically of shaft 21 and near its periphery, a cylindrical stud 25 whose axis is parallel to the axis of the shaft 21. An arm 26 is pivotally confined by collar 25a on the stud 25 so as to rotate on the shaft while at the same time moving bodily with the rotating member 2%. At one end, the arm 26 mounts a body 27 such as a sphere, symbolizing a planet, and the other end of the arm 26 mounts a counterweight 28 so that the arm 26 can rotate freely and in balanced condition on the stud 25.

Since the arm 26 is rigid and represents the combination of gravitational pull and centrifugal forces acting between the planet and the sun, or between the moon and the earth, which are not rigid and inflexible tics, it is desired to illustrate mechanically to some extent the possibility of some small local variations that may occur in the path of a following planet. For this purpose, the mounting of the body 27 on the arm 26 includes a cylindrical stud 29 depending from the body 27 and which is rotatably confined in a spool 30 with four flat side faces. The end of arm 26 has a recess or cavity 31 in which the spool 30 is confined for limited sliding movement in horizontal directions. The upper face of this end of the arm 26 has an aperture 32 through which the stud 29 extends into the arm, and engagement of a side of the stud 29 with the margin of the aperture 32 limits the extent of possible movement of the body 27 on the arm 26. Small helical compression springs 33 are disposed in cavity 31 between the flat sides of spool 30 and the side wall of cavity 31, arranged at four sides of the stud 29 and all under compression, so as to urge the spool 30 into a position in which the stud 29 is centrally of aperture 32. The flanges of the spool in their sliding engagement with the top and bottom walls of the cavity 31 guide the stud 29 back and forth.

When the member 20 is rotated, such as in the direction of the arrow C, at a high speed, the balanced arm 26 will move bodily with the member 24 and also will additionally rotate on stud 25 in the direction of the arrow D. The arm 26 may be manually started rotating in the direction of arrow D while rotation of member 24 is started, and arm 26 will then continue to rotate on stud 25 as it moves bodily with the member 24 in a rotary path. Since minor variations in the rotary speeds of member 20 and arm 26 may occur, there may be, by inertia, some slight local movements of the body 27 which is permitted by the springs 33. The body 27 may be a hollow sphere, if desired. The rotation of arm 26 and the body 27 on the rotating member 24 is another illustration of the movement of the ball 15 in the cup formed by wall 14 as they also rotate bodily with member 10.

In the embodiment of the invention shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, a member 35 is fixed centrally on the upper end of a shaft 36 which is rotatably supported in a bearing 37 that is carried by a base or support 38. The member 35 has fixed on its upper face 39, an upstanding post 40 that at its upper end has a reduced diameter, cylindrical bearing portion 41 on which one end of an arm 42 is rotatably mounted. A collar 43, removably confined on the upper end of the bearing portion 41, confines the arm 42 to bearing 41 while permitting free rotation of arm 42 thereon. A body 44, of spherical shape, and which may symbolize a planet, is connected to the free end of the arm 42 by a flexible rod 45 so that the body 44 will rotate with the arm 42 on bearing portion 41 of post 40 and also move bodily in a rotary direction with the member 35. The rod 45 is made of any flexible material such as flexible steel or any other flexible material which normally will return to a straight out position, as shown in full lines in FIGS. 4 and after it is flexed, such as shown by the dash lines in FIGS. 4 and 5, and then released. The flexible rod performs a function of permitting limited local movements on the arm 42 during its other movements. These local movements permitted by the flexible rod are somewhat similar to the limited local movements permitted by the spool 30 and springs 33 in the embodiment of the invention shown in FIGS. 1 and 2.

It will be understood that suitable motors or other motive power are to be connected to the shaft 11 of FIGS. 6 and 7, to the shaft 21 of FIGS. 1 and 2, and to the shaft 36 of FIGS. 4 and 5 and that for best results the speeds of rotation of such shafts 11, 21 and 36 should be very high, yet such speed is not sharply critical.

The mechanical connections or confining means between the body symbolizing a planet and the axis of rotation represents gravitational forces acting against centrifugal forces to keep the planet in its closed loop path. The body representing a planet is mounted preferably so as to be able to deviate slightly locally in its generally circular path, but subject to the compound rotary motion path, and thus automatically adjusting itself to the law of angular momentum with the sum total of all of the motions. This device in addition to visually indicating the postulated theory of celestial forces and motions is also useful in the study of other compound rotary motions.

It will be understood that various changes in the details, materials and arrangements of parts, which have been herein described and illustrated in order to explain the nature of the invention, may be made by those skilled in the art within the principle and scope of the invention as expressed in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. An educational device for illustrating a postulated theory of how celestial forces act upon galaxies of stars and planets and enabling a study of such forces, which comprises:

(a) a member mounted for rotation on its axis,

(b) an arm pivoted for free rotation on said member,

as Well as rotation with it, eccentrically of said member axis, about an axis parallel to said member axis, and

(c) a body representing a planet coupled to said arm, at a substantial distance from said arm axis for sliding movement in a direction in a plane that is normal to the axis of rotation of the arm, with resilient means urging the planet body into an intermediate position of its possible sliding movement,

(d) whereby when said member is rotated about its axis, in one direction, said arm will rotate in the opposite direction on its pivot while moving bodily in rotation with said member.

2. The device according to claim 1, wherein said arm is counter-balanced on its pivotal axis, and said resilient means is a plurality of springs, all under compression and bearing on at least four different sides of the planet.

3. An educational device for use in demonstrating a postulated theory of how celestial forces act upon galaxies of stars and planets, and enabling a study of such forces, which comprises:

(a) a member mounted for high speed rotation on its axis,

(b) an arm pivoted for free rotation on said member as well as bodily rotation with it on an axis parallel to and at a substantial distance from the member axis,

(c) a body representing a planet, and means resiliently mounting said body on said arm, at a substantial distance from the arm axis of rotation, for limited relative movement thereon about an axis that is parallel to the axis of rotation of said member, in a direction that is parallel to a plane that is normal to the axis of rotation of the arm and which is resiliently held in a central position when said arm is not rotating,

(d) whereby when said arm is first started in rotation about its axis in one direction and the member is then rotated about its axis in the opposite direction, said arm will continue to rotate in said one direction on its axis while bodily rotating in the opposite direction with said member.

4. An educational device for illustrating a postulated theory of how celestial forces act upon galaxies of stars and planets and enabling a study of such forces, which emprises:

(a) a member mounted for rotation on its axis,

(b) an arm pivoted for free rotation on said member, as well as bodily rotation with it, eccentrically of said member axis, about an axis parallel to said member axis, and

(c) a body representing a planet, coupled to said arm, at

a substantial distance from said arm axis,

((1) said body being a sphere with an axial projection, said arm having a cavity in its free end opening in 5 6 a direction parallel to said pivotal axis, a spool-like References Cited sleeve confined in said cavity to slide to a limited extent in all directions crosswise of its said pivotal UNITED STATES PATENTS axis, springs resisting each of such crosswise move- 610,317 9/1898 Baker 35-45 Itllllents, and sfaidgrojection is rotatably confi ed in 5 1,135,204 4/1915 p 5 45 e passage 0 5211 s eeve,

(e) whereby when said member is rotated about its axis, 11 10/1931 Tea 35 19 in one direction, said arm will rotate in the opposite 3'221419 12/1965 Cohen 3519 X g i gg g 3: :52? Whfle movmg bodlly JEROME SCHNALL, Primary Examiner. 

3. AN EDUCATIONAL DEVICE FOR USE IN DEMONSTRATING A POSTULATED THEORY OF HOW CELESTIAL FORCES ACT UPON GALAXIES OF STARS AND PLANETS, AND ENABLING A STUDY OF SUCH FORCES, WHICH COMPRISES: (A) A MEMBER MOUNTED FOR HIGH SPEED ROTATION ON ITS AXIS, (B) AN ARM PIVOTED FOR FREE ROTATION ON SAID MEMBER AS WELL AS BODILY ROTATION WITH IT ON AN AXIS PARALLEL TO AND AT A SUBSTANTIAL DISTANCE FROM THE MEMBER AXIS, (C) A BODY REPRESENTING A PLANET, AND MEANS RESILIENTLY MOUNTING SAID BODY ON SAID ARM, AT A SUBSTANTIAL DISTANCE FROM THE ARM AXIS OF ROTATION, FOR LIMITED RELATIVE MOVEMENT THEREON ABOUT AN AXIS THAT IS PARALLEL TO THE AXIS OF ROTATION OF SAID MEMBER, IN A DIRECTION THAT IS PARALLEL TO A PLANE THAT IS NORMAL TO THE AXIS OF ROTATION OF THE ARM AND WHICH IS RESILIENTLY HELD IN A CENTRAL POSITION WHEN SAID ARM IS NOT ROTATING, (D) WHEREBY WHEN SAID ARM IS FIRST STARTED IN ROTATION ABOUT ITS AXIS IN ONE DIRECTION AND THE MEMBER IS THEN ROTATED ABOUT ITS AXIS IN THE OPPOSITE DIRECTION, SAID ARM WILL CONTINUE TO ROTATE IN SAID ONE DIRECTION ON ITS AXIS WHILE BODILY ROTATING IN THE OPPOSITE DIRECTION WITH SAID MEMBER. 